Motsepe to chair black business body

2011-09-08 07:38

Sapa

Johannesburg - A new Black Business Council (BBC) will be formed
under the chairpersonship of businessman Patrice Motsepe as an umbrella body to
ensure unity among black business, a Black Business Summit decided on
Wednesday.

In a statement, the summit said black business would also
immediately suspend its participation in Business Unity SA (Busa).

"This summit marks the beginning of a new era in that
black business is defining its own agenda and taking control of its own destiny,"
it said.

"It will shape the South African economy, which will
lead to an economic revolution that will see the country establishing itself as
a global powerhouse."

The Black Business Council was founded in 1996 by black
businessmen and professionals to play a central role in key national economic
initiatives, but merged with Business South Africa in 2003 to form the chief
business lobby group Busa.

In his keynote address to the summit, President Jacob Zuma
said unity in business was important to the government.

"The unity of the business sector is paramount in
ensuring the achievement of the transformation goals. As government, we need a
unified and united business voice to work with," he said.

"The time to differ, I think, is gone, it's now time to
find one another."

The summit was convened by the Confederation of Black
Business Organisations after the Black Management Forum withdrew from Busa in
July.

At the time, it said Busa's structure was fundamentally
flawed, with the voice of black business "permanently outnumbered and
suppressed".

Busa CEO Nomaxabiso Majokweni and president Futhi Mtoba were
reportedly asked to leave the summit on Tuesday.

Confederation vice-president Bafana Ndendwa told Business
Day there would not have been a chance for "natural discussion" had
they been in the room.

On Wednesday, the Black Business Summit said delegates had
worked from the premise that after 17 years of democracy, some progress had
been made, but that more meaningful black participation in the economy was a
non-negotiable.

It was decided that black business needed to revert to its
original name and mission.

The BBC would immediately engage with Busa on a range of
policy, structural and constitutional issues.

This process would be led by a team put together from a
steering committee consisting of the presidents of national organisations and
black business stalwarts, which would lead the new body under Motsepe.

Associations represented at the summit were the: Black IT
Forum, Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals,
Association of Black Accountants of SA, Black Management Forum, Black Lawyers'
Association, Foundation for African Business and Consumer Services and African
Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Also represented were the: Black Business Executive Circle,
National Black Business Caucus, SA Black Technical and Allied Careers'
Organisation, National Society of Black Engineers SA, SA Women Entrepreneurs'
Network, SA Women in Construction, and Women in Food and Hospitality.

During the summit four commissions deliberated on economic
transformation, small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) development, the
infrastructure investment commission, and the land reform commission.

In its statement, the summit said it had decided that black business had to be defined (which included the building of a new community
of black entrepreneurs), that a black venture capital fund had to be established
to ensure access to finance and that the government should allocate funding for
the BBC's activities.

On SMMEs it resolved that, among other things, the national
skills fund accelerate the provision of funding for entrepreneurship education.

It also found that Construction Industry Development Board
gradings needed to be urgently overhauled, that unreasonable guarantees should be done
away with and a mechanism of underwriting these guarantees be provided, and
that so-called fronting be criminalised, with a turnover or income-based-penalty.

The land claims process had to be fast-tracked and a 15-year moratorium imposed on the resale of land acquired through land reform;
land sales transactions had to include structured community development plans
and programmes, and a land tax should be levied on unused land.

The summit resolved that an agency be created within the BBC
to help communities with the land claims process.

Comments

John Jameson
-
2011-09-08 07:53

"At the time, it said Busa's structure was fundamentally flawed, with the voice of black business "permanently outnumbered and suppressed".
I guess that's how white people feel about national elections, except that they don't get to opt out and form their own state.

Pieter van der Merwe
-
2011-09-08 10:49

John... excellent and quite comical. :-) One should think after 17 years of 'Liberation' someone would have shouted 'we are free'. Oh but the formation of a new government in '94 is increasingly viewed as a compromise of revolutionary ideals like the NDR. Therefore, the government and all the pigs feeding at the BEE trough will say that they will only become free after all have become billionaires. Always liberating. Never free. Freedom my dear ANC, does not mean a Blackberry, BMW and a Breitling watch. It first of all means you can write what you think down on a piece of paper. Then it means you understand yourself as opposed to others. Then it means you don't defecate in your own clothes or throw KFC papers out your taxi window. Then it means you care for others as you care for yourself. Then it means Coke is not a prophylactic and raping a child, eating beetroot does not Cure Aids. Then it means building nice things instead of breaking them. Then it means reading books in stead of burning them. Then it means working for money, not stealing it and then it means telling the truth, not lying and covering up your filth. Freedom ultimately means being free from your own vices and illusions of self importance and entitlement. Freedom means commiting to a social agenda that values a free independant judiciary and media, education, innovation, forgiveness, discipline, austerity, planning, humility, excellence, faith, hope, love, ethics and courage.

VELOCITY
-
2011-09-08 08:08

Black this and Black that, where's the White Business Forum? Oh sorry, that would be racist.

Nettas
-
2011-09-08 08:13

Why is there a need for a black business council in a non-racial society. If there had to be a white business council all hell will break loose. Ps: I am not white.

realist4sale
-
2011-09-08 08:16

we all support transformation, but be sure not to exclude other races....transforamtion requires all parties to have equal sharing in opportunities, if one makes more than another thats just good business, lets not follow ZIMBABWE PLEASE, young white & black people are been forced out of South Africa to look for work is this what transformation is??? I think not, will we ever forget the past and focus on the future(past can be remembered but lets not live in the past....we need a second political party to rival the ANC....not for any other reason than to ensure all is fair....People of SA PLEASE WAKE UP MOVE ON AND THINK WHAT IS TRULY BEST FOR THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY (targeting white ppl is not the answer)

Leoster
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2011-09-08 10:54

Moving on is what we all want. But what do you want Africans to move on from? We own nothing. You start your life with a trust fund receipt of R50000.00 min and I start with a student loan of R50000.00min and no opportunity to inherit shares from my great grandfather's estate. Actually, I inherit the obligation of getting my mother out of a shack and building her a decent 7 room house on top of having to assist with taking my siblings to school. It is sad how comments like yours tempts one to request that you to consider why there is still inequality that necessitates establishing these organisations.

Leoster
-
2011-09-08 11:04

This is not about targeting white people. It is about establishing an organisation that seeks to further the interests of a group that sees itself as being minority and dominated.

Pieter van der Merwe
-
2011-09-08 12:47

Leo. What is evident is your attitude that symbolise the pervasive rhetoric among black youths today. Whites are not complaining. No, whites are suffering. Instead of being thankful for what you have and inherited via Apartheid YOU complain for not having more. How much exactly do you want? Would you like whites to give their wealth away in order to empower blacks? Good, let's suppose white's do that. What happens after you've eaten all of it? You move forward by not loitering at the pub and fantasizing about white people's wealth (and let me tell you, not a lot are wealthy anymore), those with money are either leaving or becoming poor quickly by way of economical and racial discrimination. This is the damage your friend Julius Malema have done, by saying you are entitled to 'riches' and 'wealth' for which you don't labour for. Just play politician and you are made for life. It's like technology, it's magic. Marxism has never been appropriate for SA and is anachronistic at best. SA was not properly colonized. If it was your pepper corn scalp would have been put on a stick. SA is a country with many peoples and many wars. The boer have brought you salvation. Kiss his hand for it. Africa suffers from a terminal case of inferiority complex. Go uplift yourself by reading books and pondering on ideas already discussed in ancient times. Maybe you will find a way of 'moving' on...

pillowcasephelo
-
2013-01-30 14:10

Leoster, im a black child. i dont get your point here. So you start with a 50 000 loan and then how does all this Black Associations fit into the bigger scheme of things. How does having a Black Lawyers Association HELP YOU. How, please do tell. The only transformation i see here is this:
Yes white people were privileged because of apartheid but even where there was never apartheid, white people still remain privileged. So will you then quote slavery and colonialism. Just focus on yourself. Stop being part of madness and people perpetuating a cycle that will never end but will destroy SA in the future.

Sean
-
2011-09-08 08:21

How funny...We also need Black Sunday and Black September.... If whites created the "White" equivalents of all these 'Black' bodies, etc, we would be racist and these "white" bodies would be declared unconstitutional and thus illegal. I have a lot of respect for many successful black business people, but this tells me that Blacks still consider themselves inferior - so much so, that they have to create new rules for business, as they cannot compete in an open and equal environment with white companies. This also makes a mockery of the "Proudly SA" brand, whose mission is to promote business amongst ALL SA companies.

Nasdaq7
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2011-09-08 08:22

I'm forming a white business unity to ensure unity among white businesses.

Hope-101
-
2011-09-09 09:24

I will join you, lets call it the Broederbond.

mac-sdi
-
2011-09-08 08:23

not to knock Patrice, but who appointed him? wad there a vote or nomination process? are all the other organisation, forums 100% bwhind his appointment? We need to see other faces emerge from black business. not this rotation of the same faces.

De la Rey
-
2011-09-08 08:32

And if you are black and you still aren't a millionaire, then you are simply not trying hard enough. Motsepe has made R22,000,000,000 the past 17 years. You have no excuses. Absolutely none.

Hope-101
-
2011-09-09 09:23

Why do you use my user name(Hope-101). Be original please.

Louisf1
-
2011-09-08 08:46

I'm a great fan of Patrice Motsepe. He's got a pragmatic view of economy. I do not think he will run the affairs of the Black Business Council (BBC) with the typical ideological, unattainable style of typical African leaders. I expect some practical workable, realistic goals from him. After-all, he is a successful entrepreneur himself that should understand how things work.
But bold and ambitious plans....example:
"It will shape the South African economy, which will lead to an economic revolution that will see the country establishing itself as a global powerhouse."
How, how, how...are they going to achieve this ? Bold statements and no actual practical plans?
About a 100 years ago, the Afrikaner did exactly this, organised themselves to focus on Afrikaner affairs in order to expedite alleviating Afrikaner poverty of the day. It was done with great success.
So, by all means, if they feel they can do better on their own, then they must go do their own thing. But please achieve something ...and, NO blaming other groups or apartheid or whatever, should they fail!

gcr
-
2011-09-08 08:46

Wonder what there rally call is "The Cliche Song"
Sad that these black agencies can't and won't compete with other entrepeneurs but rather hide behind legislation and penalties to do business - with AA and BE criteria in place in every facit of the economy they still can't see that that to be successful you need to compete and work hard - government gratuities are only going to work for so long. With the sheer number of blacks in this country I would have thought we would have had thousands of black entrepeneurs but it seems that there is just no drive to create a niche business for themselves

Jared
-
2011-09-08 08:55

Just imagine for 1 second someone had to start a "White Business Commitee" - the outrage would be incomprehensible. However we just sit back and accept these "blacks only" bodies in a country where they are the vast majority. Something is not right....

albatross
-
2011-09-08 08:57

Counted the word "Black" almost 30 times in this article. Replace with White and read it again.. WTF? we in 2011.

Joquim
-
2011-09-08 08:58

I wonder what the reaction would be if someone formeda White Business Council (WBC)??

EqualStand.Org
-
2011-09-08 10:29

It would be called racially divisive... and justifiably so.

Hope-101
-
2011-09-09 09:35

Yes, lets do it.

Exoteric
-
2011-09-08 09:01

'Unity in black busines' is best described as closing ranks around their corrupt dealings and making sure no-one talks about their underhanded dealings, its the black elite getting richer. I look forward to a new 'White business forum' being formed lets see how that gets politically speaking....

Ivan
-
2011-09-08 09:01

It always amazes me that in our society the ANC and national government continually call for a non-racial society, yet it is perfectly OK for a Black ONLY business organisation to be active. Does this not go against our "non-racial" constitution. Had business formed a "white" only business organisation, it would be labeled racists and condemned by the very same black members of the Black only organisation!

IC1
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2011-09-08 09:04

"It will shape the South African economy, which will lead to an economic revolution that will see the country establishing itself as a global powerhouse."
Yawn, I dont think so!

AndV
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2011-09-08 09:09

Black - white, racist, but it is ok if you are black. Should blacks not unite with other safricans and build this country? This move is as racist as you can get, just because they did not get their way with BUSA. Patrice, your true racist colours are shining brightly for all to see. Lets face it, you are in it for the fiscal opportunities in stock for yourself, isn't? Lets hear from you. Unless blacks get everything for free, you just can not do it for yourself. Ask jacob, isn't it what he said this week?

EqualStand.Org
-
2011-09-08 10:27

Anything that is exclusive to specific groups deserves to be defined as racist. The apartheid government had the same accusations leveled against it and, rightly so, lost the fight. So how can the new government reverse the roles?

Democracy
-
2011-09-08 09:15

It would be better if Government embark on business innitiatives that will seek to promote Black Entrepreneurship as mechamism for full participation of Black South Africans in the economic activities of the country.
Economic ectivities which I dont refer as "government tenders"
but rather the business that will bring challenge to business owners to use opportunies effectively and challenge them to acquire business skills other than to engage with government tenders mere to advance their interest and abond above 50% paid but incomplete projects which in most cases formed on inferior materials and explotation of poor SA Citiezien.
Government is better rectify this situation, it becimong worse day after day but no attention is being brought into it.

Vumile-Prince
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2011-09-08 09:53

One hopes that the BBC will have a great deal in helping with skills up grading within the black race. The black business community has to be in the leading role of developing a far bigger pool of black entrepreneurship this of course comes on the ranger of funding and skills development. This is a good move one hopes it will work!

majita
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2011-09-08 11:28

A lot of comentators are missing the point, I think the challenge is the BEE/AA legislation which is failing to reach the anticipated results. Since its difficult to get compliance, is it not better if Blacks formed an organization that will help to participate fully in the economy of the country, maybe BBC(Black Business Council) is a wrong terminology to use considering the racial tensions in this country. The gorverment is feeling the pressure to start coming up with alternates to BEE which would result in the empowerment of the Blacks, considering the fact that there is a lot of resistance from the Private sector to comply with BEE Legislation.

kaMazibuko
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2011-09-08 11:31

u have afriforum, awb, suidlanders etc as groups that serve white people's interests so why should not black people ?
At least in this case it's clear what their agenda is, its advance black business and make sure that black people have an increased role in the SA economy, what does AWB stand for instead of spreading racial intolerance ?

VELOCITY
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2011-09-08 12:22

The AWB is an extreme right, facist organization that caters for racist Afrikaane living in the past. In fact, it's a impotent "kitchen table" organization operating in the shadows of the Brandy and Coke bottles. These "Black" organizations are racist groups of influencial businessmen with an agenda of undermining, disenfranchising and bankruption of so called "White" businesses. Yes Sir, advancement of "Black" businessmen in favour of "White" businessmen. These organizations are actively working toward a totally Black Africa, and it's dangerous.

66DegreesSouth
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2011-09-08 12:55

Dude, a tiny, tiny percentage of racist persons belongs to the AWB... It is so ignorant to even suggest the "White People"'s interests are served by the AWB... That's like saying non-white people's interests are served by Al Queda... Think first, then work together man! That's the only way to overcome the inherent racism that still pervades both the radical right-wing, white and black, as well as much of the black business interests.
Encouraging division will only reap more division

Hope-101
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2011-09-09 09:30

The AWB is an extremist, right wing, political party and has nothing to do with business. Do not advertise the fact that you are uninformed on the internet. If this is legal, then so is the Broederbond!!

Cathy
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2011-09-08 12:05

Matsepe again... The man must get out of these forums. We want new blood!

66DegreesSouth
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2011-09-08 12:51

I thought race-based policies and organizations were contrary to the laws of our constitution and therefore illegal?... Am I missing something? As SOUTH AFRICANS, should we not be promoting SOUTH AFRICAN business structures which can assist in accelerating the learning curve of all SOUTH AFRICANS, in business, and therefore increase the productivity and wealth of all SOUTH AFRICANS?... Or is African now defined to mean only Black? Freaky stuff, guys, really sad to see.

Hope-101
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2011-09-09 09:27

I am 100% with you.

pillowcasephelo
-
2013-01-30 14:04

Very disappointing to read. Black this and black that. Black everything.
In summary whites, Indians, coloreds and any other race seems to have been left out of the bandwagon of economic transformation. Only black people. South Africans, what South Africans. Just us black folks and them.
Color this and color that and remember to caught apartheid and slavery while you are at it. Why not level the playing field, capacitate the minds be it whatever race and see people striving for excellence on their own accord.